Synopsis:

Hammer films best known for some of the most intense horror films of the sixties enters the Sci-Fi Craze of the atomic age with it's installment simply entitled-X The Unknown. On a military training exercise, a fissure erupts in the Earth's surface and a deadly radioactive substance is freed. Think the Blob only radioactive! Anyway, this gelatinous substance goes throughout the town killing or rather…melting people to absorb their er um…energy. Finally, a scientist figures out the creature's purpose and rallies the military forces for an all out last ditch effort to defeat this creature for once and for all.

Audio:

The audio for the feature is presented in mono and is rather fitting for this kind of film. I didn't miss the stereo or 5.1 for that matter but was able to enjoy the film as it was in its original audio platform. Much like the Universal Classic Monster series, the audio was well presented with just a few moments of background hiss but other than that, the audio was just rite for this type of film.

Video:

The video is presented in the film's original B&W. I had a chance to compare both the VHS transfer to that of the DVD and the transfer quality is remarkable to say the least. In the original, both the TV version of the film & the tape had both a great deal of muddiness and an extremely soft image. Conversely, the disc is not only starkly crystalline but all but the smallest hints of softness remain. There are a few errant lines & markings but only in the earliest portion of the film. The only real carp I have about an otherwise beautiful transfer is that the extensive use of herringbone & tweed in the fabric of the actors' garments can at times provide an annoying off colored momentary shimmer. This occurs in only two segments that I can recall. The most notable can be found in chapter 8 of the feature. Other than that the films' transfer is pretty remarkable.

Extras:

The menus are very nicely presented and animate with the selection of menu items. The extras consist of a 30-minute look at the Sci-Fi films of Hammer Studios with a narration provided by the late Oliver Reed. The films focused on are the popular Quatermass series, X-The Unknown and Frankenstein created Woman featuring none other than the incomparable Peter Cushing. The film's theatrical trailer is included as well.

Overall:

X-The Unknown is probably one of the quirkiest of the Sci-Fi entries of the genre. It's really a pretty neat film that carries it's own weight throughout the whole of the picture. There are a couple of instance where the film tends to drag and it can get rather long in the tooth if the subject matter is not to your liking. However, as films of this ilk go, this is a fairly decent entry. While not the best , it's certainly worthy of being rented at the least. I found a bit of reminiscence in the viewing and thoroughly enjoyed myself from beginning to end. If you are a fan of British Sci-Fi as I am, I think you'll find a rare treat in X-The Unknown.